Published: Feb 14, 2015, 01:53 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 14, 2015, 01:53 PM (IST)
Adelaide: While all the focus was on the two teams — India and Pakistan — the logistical staff worked tirelessly to put things in place. On Friday, they took small steps towards dressing up the Adelaide Oval for the high-voltage encounter. The following day, they put the puzzle together piece by piece. The sightscreens were set, the groundstaff worked on the square and the volunteers went about their job to ensure everything took place smoothly. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: SCHEDULE & MATCH DETAILS
The cables were tied on each of the four light towers, with the spider-cam coming into play. Soon, the microphones came out and were placed facing the dressing room. A podium was put up, presumably where the trophy would be displayed on Sunday. Soon, a group of children held the flags of each country and made their march towards the microphones and the podium. The two teams will line up for the anthems tomorrow. The staff is planning each move to get it right as the national anthems infuse energy among the players and the crowd. The anthems were finally played, with the fans chanting after they were done! Live Scorecard of the ICC Cricket World Cup Pool B encounter between India and Pakistan
In the morning, MS Dhoni walked out and went to have a look at the wicket. He said at the press conference that it was damp and one could not make a comment on it now. The day began with clouds all over, but towards the evening, the sun blazed down on the centre with the volunteers doing their bit with the organisers. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: POINTS TABLE
The sound system and the giant screens were tested through the day. The line-ups of the two teams were announced by the emcee. He couldn’t get a few Pakistan names right, but has at least 20 hours to practice. Then there was a countdown that was played repeatedly. As seen during ICC World T20 2014 in Bangladesh, the players would be on the big screen before start of play, counting down to the first ball. This time, it looked a lot more synchronized than it did last year. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Complete Coverage
Adelaide Oval has been one of the most picturesque grounds in the world. The new stands have made the old school venue into an arena. A lot more people will fill it tomorrow! It is not only a big day for India and Pakistan, but also for this venue.
(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Correspondent with CricketCountry and anchor for the site’s YouTube Channel. His Twitter handle is @nishad_45)
